While Apple and Samsung have been squabbling over Samsung’s seemingly blatant copying of Apple’s designs, Samsung is now attempting to compete with Apple in yet another market: Notebook computers. They plan to achieve this, at least in part, by purchasing HP’s computer manufacturing division.
Samsung has reportedly (according to DigiTimes) already begun negotiating the matter with PC suppliers in Taiwan, including Quanta, Compal, and Pegatron, and seems to be evaluating the possibility of outsourcing their notebook orders.
Samsung is currently projected to ship around 10 million PCs this year, but that number could leap significantly, adding an additional 40 million units if Samsung can attract HP’s customers.
Apple, the current largest portable computer manufacturer, remains as the opposing factor, holding between 10 and 21 percent of the notebook market (depending on if you count the iPad) and continuing to experience record sales numbers quarter after quarter and year after year. Despite the fact that the global PC market is shrinking, customers are continuing to purchase Macs at ever-increasing rates.
Even if Samsung is able to attract HP’s customers, and also manages to find a way to produce enough notebooks, they still don’t really hold much of a chance. Apple’s massive cash reserves make it easy for them to get the best deals on components and manufacturing, thus returning higher margins than their competitors. In short, I welcome Samsung to do their best. It’ll be that much more laughable when they fail.
